Harris and Walz Launch 2-Day Georgia Bus Tour Ending in Savannah Rally

Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, are set to begin a two-day bus tour in Georgia this Wednesday. The tour will take them through rural communities in the southern region of the state, culminating in a significant rally in Savannah.

The Democratic campaign aims to connect with supporters, small business owners, and voters during this visit. With the election approaching, the party recognizes the necessity of expanding their reach beyond just Atlanta and its suburbs—a strategy that proved effective in the past when Joe Biden won the state in 2020.

This trip to Georgia serves as a make-up for a previously planned campaign swing that was canceled when Tropical Storm Debby hit the region earlier this month. The canceled tour had included stops in North Carolina and Georgia that were deemed unsafe for travel.

Alongside the bus tour and the major rally on Thursday, Harris and Walz will participate in their first joint interview with CNN anchor Dana Bash, which is scheduled to air Thursday night.

In previous campaigns, the Democratic strategy of targeting Republican-heavy areas has yielded some success, as showcased by Raphael Warnock’s reelection as Georgia’s first Black senator in 2022. Warnock’s victory by nearly 3 percentage points highlighted the potential for Democrats to gain traction outside traditional strongholds, a tactic facilitated by campaign operatives now working with Harris.

As the election draws nearer, Harris is also scheduled for a campaign event on Labor Day alongside President Biden in both Detroit and Pittsburgh. With just over 70 days until Election Day, the urgency of their campaign efforts is palpable, especially as mail ballots will be sent out within two weeks.

In the backdrop of Harris’ visit, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp appears to have moved on from tensions with former President Donald Trump. Although Trump recently criticized Kemp for his handling of the 2020 election results during a rally, the governor described those events as a minor distraction, stating that he was not fully aware of the circumstances leading up to the rally.

Trump had launched a strong verbal attack against Kemp at the rally, accusing him of contributing to his narrow defeat in Georgia. He expressed frustration over Kemp’s refusal to support unfounded claims of election fraud and blamed him for not acting to halt a local district attorney’s prosecution related to their election efforts.

However, just last week, Trump appeared to mend fences with Kemp, thanking him publicly for his assistance in Georgia, emphasizing the importance of securing a win for the Republican Party.

Kemp, in a recent Fox News interview, emphasized the need for Republicans to focus on their message to voters. He stated that it’s crucial to articulate what the party can offer to improve the current situation rather than dwelling on past disagreements.

Meanwhile, the Harris campaign has launched a new advertisement across key battleground states, attempting to link Trump to the conservative agenda outlined in “Project 2025.” This strategic move seeks to highlight the implications of Trump’s potential return to power, framing him as someone aiming for greater control over voters.

The advertisement is part of a significant investment, totaling $370 million, in digital and television advertising slated between Labor Day and Election Day.

“Project 2025,” led by the Heritage Foundation, outlines an extensive framework for governing under a future Republican administration, including plans to replace many civil servants with Trump loyalists and to reverse FDA approvals for abortion-related medications.

Despite the plan being drafted by former Trump administration allies, Trump has recently attempted to distance himself from it, claiming he had little knowledge of its specifics or the individuals associated with it. He characterized it in a social media post as unrelated to the well-received Republican Platform.